NEWS OF RELIGIOUS CONFLICT & INTOLERANCE, 2003-AUGUST

2003-AUG-1: Canada: Same-sex marriage controversy
continues: This is a rapidly developing story. Even as hundreds of
gays and lesbians marry in Ontario and British Columbia, the federal
government is planning to introduce legislation to allow same-sex couples
to marry anywhere in Canada. More details.

2003-AUG-13: MA: Radio talk show host suspended for
"genocide" remarks: John Osterlind (a.k.a. "Ozone''
is the morning announcer on WRKO-AM in Boston, MA, He was suspended for
two weeks after he allegedly called for "the eradication of the
Palestinian people.'' Tom Baker, WRKO's general manager said that the
comments were "totally, totally unacceptable." Program Director
Mike Elder said that he thinks that: "in the battle of the moment,''
Ozone didn't give much thought to what he was advocating. Elder continued:
"But you have got to take a stand when someone who is paid to think
about what they're saying comes close to endorsing genocide.''11

2003-AUG-28: OH: Catholic school expels Muslim student:
Amal Jamal, 17, a senior student at Regina High School, is a
Muslim attending a Roman Catholic parochial school in South Euclid, OH. On
AUG-25, while she stood in line to buy textbooks, she was informed that
the hajib that she was wearing violates the school's dress code. The
Cleveland Plain Dealer reported, "Surrounded by classmates, Amal put
down her books, fought back tears and left." Interviewed at home, she
said: "I was in shock; I didn't understand. All along, they gave me a
room to pray in. They asked me questions about Islam. They always accepted
me for who I was. Now they have decided it is against school policy to
wear my hajib." Two days later, neither an administrator, teacher or
student had contacted her or tried to help. Principal Sister Maureen Burke
said: "I feel very bad about this situation. I've agonized over it.
Amal is a wonderful young woman. The family is very fine...But the uniform
issue is very important to who we are as a Catholic school." Ibrahim
Hooper, spokesperson for the Council on American Islamic Relations
said he knew of no other American private school expelling a Muslim girl
in this way. He said: "It's just ridiculous. You have a religious
school denying a student the right to her religious belief." Should
you wish to commend or criticize the Regina High School administration for
their views on religious freedom of expression, you might send an Email
to: rhsadmission@stratos.net
.

On a more positive note, Gilmour Academy, a Roman Catholic school
in nearby Gates Mills, OH, debated whether to allow a male, seventh-grade
Sikh student to wear a turban -- a headdress often worn by male Sikhs.
They discussed the matter with the local Sikh community, and decided to
allow an exception to the dress code and him attend class in his turban.
Principal, Brother Robert Lavelle said: "I think it went well. I found
it to be an education for myself in understanding the Sikh community."
12

References:

DayWatch is a daily service of Maranatha Christian
Journal. It provides "a daily summary of news headlines
with a Christian perspective..." The newsletter is free on
request. Their web site is at: http://www.mcjonline.com

ReligionToday™ provides free newsletters to which you can
subscribe at: http://www.ReligionToday.com.
These summaries are part of GOSHEN.net, which also includes LiveIt.net,
Devotionals.net, ChristianShareware.net, ChristianClassifieds.net,
ChristianMessageBoards.net, BibleStudyTools.net, MediaManagement.net,
WorldNewsToday.net, WebCastGuide.net, and
ChristianCollegeGuide.net

ZENIT.org is "an International News Agency based in
Rome. Our mission is to provide objective and professional coverage of
events, documents and issues emanating from or concerning the Catholic
Church for a worldwide audience, especially the media." Their
web site is at: http://www.zenit.org/english/